Door hinge assembly

ABSTRACT

A door hinge assembly that allows installation and removal of a door by one person. The door hinge assembly comprises: (1) a top hinge plate for attachment to a door comprising a top leaf and a top tubular member protruding from a vertical edge of the top leaf; (2) a bottom hinge plate for attachment to a door jamb comprising a bottom leaf, a bottom tubular member protruding from a vertical edge of the bottom leaf, and a hinge pin having a bottom portion and a top portion, the bottom portion being fixed inside the bottom tubular member, the top portion extending beyond the bottom tubular member for insertion into the top tubular member and having a threaded end; and (3) a top cap having an internal thread that is engageable with the threaded end of the hinge pin.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation-in-part of design Application No. 29/194,123,filed Nov. 19, 2003, which is incorporated herewith by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typically, doors are attached to a door jamb by two or more conventionaldoor hinges. Each of these conventional door hinges is provided with apair of metal hinge plates, one for attachment to the door jamb and theother for attachment to the door. Both hinge plates have two or moretubular members extending from their vertical edges. The tubular membersare vertically spaced on each hinge plate so that they can be coaxiallyaligned and interlocked. After attaching one hinge plate to the edge ofthe door and interlocking the tubular members, a hinge pin is insertedthrough the coaxially aligned tubular members of both hinge plates sothat the pair of hinge plates are operatively connected for pivotingabout a common axis. Thus, the door is able to pivotally swing betweenclosed and opened positions. For installing a door with the conventionaldoor hinges, a person has to hold the door at a position where thetubular members of both hinge plates can be interlocked for anotherperson to insert a hinge pin through the tubular members. Furthermore, aslight misalignment of the hinge plates prevents tubular members frominterlocking.

Conventional door hinges are also available as a unitary construction. Ahinge pin is permanently fixed in the interlocking tubular members ofthe two hinges plates. To install a door with the door hinges of aunitary construction, usually one hinge plate should be attached to thedoor jamb first. Then one person has to hold the door at a positionclose to the door jamb for another person to attach another hinge platehanging from the door jamb to the door. Typically, the hinge plates areattached to the door jamb and the door by screwing through the holes onthe hinge plates. Although these door hinges of a unitary constructionare easier to operate than door hinges with multiple elements, theystill cannot be installed by one person without another person holdingthe door in place for installation.

In view of the foregoing, there exists a need for a door hinge that issimple in structure and allows easy installation of a door by oneperson.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a door hinge thatallows quick and easy assembly by one person without the assistance ofanother person.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a door hingethat allows a door installed with the door hinge to be easily removed byunscrewing a ball tip and lifting off the door.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a door hingethat is simple in structure and easy to manufacture.

The present invention generally provides a door hinge assemblycomprising: (1) a top hinge plate for attachment to a door, the tophinge plate comprising a top leaf provided with mounting means, and atop tubular member protruding from a vertical edge of the top leaf; (2)a bottom hinge plate for attachment to a door jamb, the bottom hingeplate comprising a bottom leaf provided with mounting means, a bottomtubular member protruding from a vertical edge of the bottom leaf, and ahinge pin having a bottom portion and a top portion, the bottom portionof the hinge pin being fixed inside the bottom tubular member, the topportion of the hinge pin having an externally threaded end and extendingbeyond the bottom tubular member for a length so that when the hinge pinis inserted through the top tubular member for assembling the door hingeassembly, the externally threaded end is exposed beyond the top tubularmember; and (3) a top cap having an internal thread, the top cap beingengageable with the externally threaded end of the top portion of thehinge pin. The mounting means is preferably at least one mounting hole.

While some of the main advantages have been mentioned above, those ofordinary skill in the art will readily recognize many more of theadvantages and objectives of this invention upon reviewing the followingdetailed description of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevation view illustrating a hinge assembly having a tophinge plate, a bottom hinge plate and a top cap in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention in a dissembled condition;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view illustrating a hinge assembly having a tophinge plate, a bottom hinge plate and a top cap in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention in an assembled condition; and

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of an upper hinge plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a door hinge assembly accordingto the present invention. The door hinge assembly comprises a top hingeplate 1 for attachment to a door, a bottom hinge plate 2 for attachmentto a door jamb, and a top cap 10.

The top hinge plate 1 comprises a top hinge leaf 3 and a top tubularmember 5 protruding from one of the vertical edges of the top hinge leaf3. The top hinge leaf 3 is provided with a plurality of mounting holes 7through which screws may be inserted for attachment of the top hingeplate 1 to the door. The top tubular member 5 extends from the top hingeleaf 3 and is curved to form the top tubular member 5 as shown in FIG.3. Alternatively, the top tubular member 5 is a separate elementconnected to an vertical edge of the top hinge leaf 3.

The bottom hinge plate 2 comprises a bottom hinge leaf 4, a bottomtubular member 6 protruding from one of the vertical edges of the bottomhinge leaf 4, and a hinge pin 8. The bottom hinge leaf 4 is providedwith a plurality of mounting holes 7 through which screws may beinserted for attachment of the bottom hinge plate 2 to the door jamb.The bottom tubular member 6 extends from the bottom hinge leaf 11 and iscurved to form the bottom tubular member 6. Alternatively, the bottomtubular member 6 is a separate element connected to an vertical edge ofthe hinge leaf 4. The hinge pin 8 has a bottom portion and a topportion. The bottom portion of the hinge pin 8 is fixed inside thebottom tubular member 6. The hinge pin 8 may be permanently fixed insidethe bottom tubular member 6 by a bottom cap 9, such as a ball tip, thatis permanently mounted to the hinge pin 8 so that the hinge pin 8 cannot be removed or turn in the bottom tubular member 6. The top portionof the hinge pin 8 has a threaded end 11 and extends beyond the bottomtubular member 6 for a length so that when the hinge pin 8 is insertedthrough the top tubular member 5 for assembling the door hinge assembly,the threaded end 11 is exposed beyond the top tubular member 5.

The top cap 10, such as a ball tip, is provided with an internal thread12 which is engageable with the externally threaded end 11 of the topportion of the hinge pin 8.

The top and bottom hinge leaves 3, 4 can have any configurations thatcan be mounted to the door jamb or the door without interfering with theinstallation of a door or operation of an installed door. Preferably,the hinge leaves each have a substantially rectangular or squareconfiguration.

To install a door with the door hinge assembly of the present invention,the bottom hinge plate 2 is attached to a door jamb and the top hingeplate 1 is attached to a corresponding position at a side edge of thedoor to be installed, for example, by screwing through the mountingholes. Next, the door is lifted and the extended top portion of thehinge pin 8 of the bottom hinge plate 2 on the door jamb is insertedinto the top tubular member 5 of the top hinge plate 1 on the door sothat the top tubular member 5 is coaxially aligned with and sits on thebottom tubular member 6 allowing the bottom tubular member 6 to at leastpartially support the weight of the door. Thus, the need for anotherperson to hold the door for subsequent installation steps can beeliminated. Then, a top cap 10 is screwed to the threaded end 11 of thehinge pin 8 to hold the hinge assembly in position. FIG. 2 illustrates adoor hinge assembly in an assembled condition.

Typically, two or more door hinges are used to attach a door to a doorjamb. Once all the door hinges are in place, the door is able to pivotabout the hinge pin 8 and swing between closed and opened positions.

The door can be easily removed from the door jamb by unscrewing the topcap 10 and then lifting the door off the hinge pin 8.

Having now described one or more exemplary embodiments of the invention,it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing isillustrative only and not limiting, having been presented by way ofexample only. All the features disclosed in this specification(including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may bereplaced by alternative features serving the same purpose, andequivalents or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise.Therefore, numerous other embodiments of the additions and modificationsthereof are contemplated as falling within the scope of the presentinvention as defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereto.

1. A door hinge assembly comprising: a top hinge plate for attachment toa door, said top hinge plate comprising a top leaf provided with atleast one mounting hole, and a top tubular member protruding from avertical edge of said top leaf; a bottom hinge plate for attachment to adoor jamb, said bottom hinge plate comprising a bottom leaf providedwith at least one mounting hole, a bottom tubular member protruding froma vertical edge of said bottom leaf, and a hinge pin having a bottomportion and a top portion, said bottom portion of said hinge pin beingfixed inside said bottom tubular member, said top portion of said hingepin having an externally threaded end and extending beyond said bottomtubular member for a length so that when said hinge pin is insertedthrough said top tubular member for assembling said door hinge assembly,said externally threaded end is exposed beyond said top tubular member;and a top cap having an internal thread, said top cap being engageablewith said externally threaded end of said top portion of said hinge pin.2. The door hinge assembly of claim 1, wherein said top and bottomleaves each have a substantially rectangular or square configuration. 3.The door hinge assembly of claim 1, wherein said top and bottom leaveseach have a plurality of mounting holes therethrough.
 4. The door hingeassembly of claim 1, further comprising a bottom cap permanently mountedat an end of said bottom portion of said hinge pin.
 5. The door hingeassembly of claim 1, wherein said top tubular member and said bottomtubular member are substantially equal in length.
 6. The door hinge ofclaim 1, wherein said bottom portion of said hinge pin is permanentlyfixed inside said bottom tubular member so that it cannot be removed orturned in the bottom tubular member.
 7. The door hinge of claim 1,wherein in an assembled condition, said top tubular member is supportedby said bottom tubular member and pivots about said hinge pin.
 8. Thedoor hinge of claim 1, which is assembled by inserting said top portionof said hinge pin into said top tubular member of said top hinge plateand engaging said top cap with said externally threaded end of saidhinge pin.
 9. The door hinge of claim 1, wherein said top cap is a balltip.
 10. The door hinge of claim 4, wherein said bottom cap is a balltip.
 11. The door hinge of claim 1, wherein said tubular members extendfrom said hinge leaves and are curved to form said tubular members.